Inspiration and Persperation: From Uncarved Block to Masterpiece
From auto repair to healthcare, there is an emphasis on customer satisfaction. We are thus surveyed and tallied for any and every service we use and product we buy. The push for quantification and objective scoring is accompanied by the desire for a “wow” experience by client and provider alike. In a culture where attention spans are short, quick fixes desired and multi-tasking the rule, this quest for excellence, if not perfection, seems somehow contradictory.
Where will these peak experiences and masterpiece-like products come from if we are unable or unwilling to invest the time and energy to nurture the creativity that ignites a flash of genius or embrace the years of training and practice that ultimately result in the master and the masterpiece?
We tend to prefer the dramatic and heroic to the mundane daily routine; the big vision to the repetitive small steps necessary to achieve it. Of course, we need both. Lofty ideals unsupported by disciplined practice may lead to idle dreaming and frivolous pursuits. Repetitious work disconnected from purpose, meaning, calling and passion can result in boredom, disengagement, and disempowerment. The goal is achieved when trusted routines and practices are infused with visions and missions of discovery, growth and service.
The concept of the “uncarved block” speaks to the natural power and hidden beauty of things and people contained in their original simplicity. It is pure potential, beginner’s mind; the sculpture waiting to be released from an amorphous rock by the skilled craftsman, a blank page waiting for the poet’s words, an empty canvas brought to life by the artist’s well directed brush; an open heart and mind, and perception without prejudice. A “masterpiece” is an ultimate achievement or expression by an individual whose skills and talents, sensitivity and committed practice of art, sport or other discipline have led to mastery – excellence in his/her chosen field. In mastery the integrity of the pursuit (journey) counts more than the object or result (destination) pursued.
When the potential existing in the “uncarved block” is discovered and harnessed by the mastery of the individual, the “masterpiece” is revealed. This is where the true “wow” experience comes from. It is based on vision (inspiration), i.e. seeing the unseen; and mission (perspiration), i.e. dedicated practice. Inspiration and perspiration, vision and mission, dreaming and manifesting may seem like opposites. However, they are also mutually complementary and support each other. Awareness of the relatedness inherent in seemingly paradoxical dualities opens us to new possibilities for discovering and developing our personal power.
“Consistency, not novelty, is the secret to uncommon results….There is absolutely no shortcut to mastery.” – John Berardi
“We must not, in trying to think about how we can make a big difference, ignore the small daily differences we can make which, over time, add up to big differences that we often cannot foresee.” Marion Wright Edelman
“We can do no great things; only small things with great love.” Mother Teresa
